Friday, 14 October 2016

#TheSeamstressTag:)

Hollie from Holllie Sews, Youtube Channel, started this great "Seamstress Tag" which is 12 questions about you and your sewing! A lot of girls made videos, and I was going to, but in the end, writing a post was easier. I've enjoyed watching everyone else's Tags:) If you'd like to participate please do! Whether by video, blog, FB post, whatever! It's so much fun!:)The Seamstress Tag Questions:

1) Who are you?My name is Rikki & I live in Nova Scotia, Canada with my husband and our two sons.2) When and Why did you start sewing?Sewing is definitely my creative outlet now. I learned to sew when I was a kid. My mom and my grandmother on my dad's side both sewed. I remember taking my mom's sewing machine over to my Grannie's and I'd make clothes for a doll that she had over there for us kids. Grannie had an old peddle sewing machine that she used as long as she was able to sew. She used to say I was going to be a seamstress:) Betty from Archie Comics made her own clothes, which I thought was really cool. I knew when I got older I'd like to make my own clothes. My dad had an upholstery buisness when I was little. When I was in Grade 6, dad covered a computer chair for a Christmas gift. He had given up upholstery at that point so I thought it was great that he did that for me:)

This isn't Grannies but I think this is exactly what hers looked like:)

3) What is your favourite or proudest make?Probably my second Minoru jacket from Sewaholic Patterns! I was very proud of my first one since it was my first jacket, and it was after my son was born in 2014, but I like my second version even better. Its a gorgeous dark bluish purple (gifted from my Aunt Kelly's relative who gave up sewing), with an amazing floral silk/cotton blend lining (thanks mom!:). I added exposed zippered pockets on the front, lined the hood in the same silk/cotton print too. The hem is a bit wonky but this jacket is still my favourite! I wear it a lot:) These photos don't do it justice, I'll try to get better photos to post! I blogged about it here.

4) What is your most disastrous make?The most disastrous make that stands out was my first attempt at a dress when I really ventured into apparel sewing about 6 years ago. The pattern was a basic sheath dress but my dress was a total sewing fail, lol! I used a cute Hawaiian-print cotton that was intended to replace a great RTW dress that just wore out. I didn't know what I was doing, didn't have a clue on how to fit the pattern to my body, etc. After that I turned to knits, which are SO much easier to fit!

5) Where is your favourite place to go fabric shopping?

Fabricville for sure! They have great apparel fabrics & they always have sales. I also check for fabrics at thrift stores. My Mother-in-law volunteers at a thrift store and she let me pick out several when we were visiting for Thanksgiving! Late Birthday gift, yay fabric!:)

6) What is your most used pattern?Hands down, Vogue 1314. I've made it several times as-is, I made a strapless version this past summer with a matching shrug, I've made a maternity version and as a base for a mermaid costume! I think I need another copy, as my pattern is getting pretty ratty, lol!:)

Line drawing.

"Under the Sea Family";)

Maternity

Summer versions, 2016:)

7) Your most dreaded sewing task is...

Probably fitting wovens and making a muslin. There are far less fitting issues with knits and making a muslin seems like a waste of time (I know, I know, shame on me). If I think I can get away without making a mock-up, I'll skip it!8) And your favourite sewing task? Is shopping for fabric a sewing task, lol? There are so many things I love about sewing, but the process of planning a project, matching fabric to a pattern is probably my favourite task! I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when a project is done, then being able to blog about it here, and write a review on patternreview.com. I do enjoy topstitching as far as actual "sewing" goes:)

9) What is your favourite 'sewing entertainment'?I like listening to Youtube videos. I have an IPad mini, so its convenient to take it from the cutting mat, to the sewing machine, to the ironing board. If I'm doing something that requires a lot of concentration I'll leave the videos off so I don't mess up (*don't mess up as often*, lol).10) Printed or PDF? Printed! I love being able to just cut out my size (I rarely trace). I have gotten a couple PDF's but I like having a pattern & I like having it in a pretty little envelope:) Plus I like finding old patterns at thrift stores!

11) What sewing machine do you use?A Computerized Brother ES 2000 which I LOVE!! I first heard of Brother from my Aunt Jillian. I was having tension issues with my Singer (I was tempted to throw it out of my apartment window on several occasions, lol). I heard she got an inexpensive model and really liked it, so I went out and bought the one I still use now. Totally recommend Brother!

12) Do you have any other hobbies?I have two boys under 3 so they keep me pretty busy. I love to read, I enjoy DIY projects, I like Pinterest (also a place where I get some of my sewing inspiration). I like to cook and bake. Well that's it:) Thank you for reading! Please join in if this interests you. Whether by Blog, video, FB post, whatever! I wasn't tagged, I just asked Hollie if I could do it, lol:)